Anyone who’s ever experienced sciatica can tell you that it isn’t fun. About 40 percent of the population will suffer through it at some point in their lives. The condition is characterized by sharp, radiating pain that shoots down the lower back and into the hips, buttocks and legs.
It comes about when pressure is put on the sciatic nerve. (This can happen for a number of reasons; more on this in a bit.) When it flares up, sciatica can be debilitating. The good news is that simple remedies, like gentle yoga stretches, can bring about near-instant relief. When that’s not enough, the Health Star Clinic team knows how to pinpoint the root of the problem and deliver the most effective treatment.
Why Ignoring Sciatica Can be Dangerous
It’s important to remember that sciatica doesn’t just flare up for no reason. On the contrary, the whole reason it comes about is that there’s pressure being put on the sciatic nerve, which happens to be the body’s longest nerve. In other words, it’s being caused by an underlying condition.
This is precisely why doing nothing is the worst way to handle sciatica. Convincing yourself to live with the pain won’t solve the problem. The same goes for taking it easy for a prolonged period as inactivity will actually make it harder to bounce back.
If your sciatica pain is rooted in a serious spinal condition, ignoring it can be dangerous. Symptoms to be on high alert for include numbness or tingling in the legs, and/or muscle weakness; they could be warning signs of a more serious problem, like a bulging or herniated disc.
Root Causes of Sciatica
This brings us to the most common causes of sciatica. According to WebMD, they include:
- Lumbar spinal stenosis: When the spinal canal in the lower back begins to narrow
- Degenerative disc disease: When the discs between the vertebrae wear down.
- Spondylolisthesis: When one vertebra slips over another.
- Pregnancy: Between 50 and 80 percent of pregnant women experience back pain. Sciatica symptoms can show up for a variety of reasons during this time.
Treating Sciatica and Preventing Pain
Health Star Clinic prides itself on taking a patient-centered approach to healing. In the majority of cases, sciatica is linked to a misaligned disk or a bulging disc in the back’s lumbar region. This, in turn, leaves the sciatic nerve vulnerable to unwanted pressure. The result is often painful, but Health Star Clinic has a well-prepared bag of tricks ranging from chiropractic adjustments to physical therapy to massage to nonsteroidal injections. Contact us to get started on kicking your sciatica pain for good.